IND vs NZ squad: The BCCI’s senior selection committee announced the 16 men squad against New Zealand for the T20I series. After stepping down as T20I captain, Virat Kohli has been rested.
Leading the group is Rohit Sharma as expected. His opening partner KL Rahul is handed the vice-captain role.
The series will start on November 17th at Jaipur. From there they will travel to Ranchi for another T20 on 19th November. They will move to Kolkata for the final clash of the series on 21st November.
New Zealand’s T20 squad: Kane Williamson (c), Martin Guptill, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Todd Astle, Dyrl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, Devon Conway (wk), Glenn Phillips (wk), Tim Seifert (wk), Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee.
India’s T20 squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Avesh Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Harshal Patel, Mohd. Siraj.
New Zealand is playing with basically the same team as the one in the ICC World Cup 2021. I don’t think they will make any drastic change to their playing eleven apart from one change.
While the hosts are bringing youth to the table. Recent IPL performances have rewarded Ruturaj Gaikwad, Venkatesh Iyer, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan a place in the 16 men squad. Venkatesh Iyer and Harshal Patel get their maiden call.
Shikhar Dhawan is still being ignored from the selection by the Chetan Sharma-led panel. I think they are preparing for the next year’s T20 World Cup.
Yuzvendra Chahal earns his spot back after being flagged in the ongoing T20 World Cup where India failed to qualify for the knockouts. Ravichandran Ashwin has retained his spot in the team with some quality performances in the group stages of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021.
Ruturaj Gaikwad will likely not get that much opportunity because of the opening success of Rohit and Rahul. Venkatesh will at least play one match though not as an opener but as a middle-order batter if India wants to give chance.
In the absence of Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli youngsters will have a chance to perform and confuse BCCI on their next selection. Axar patel makes way to the squad with Shardul Thakur again misses out.
I would love to see Abdur Samad at some point. I think if Hardik is rested Samad would have gotten the opportunity as a hard-hitting finisher.
Nevertheless, a good overall selection bearing in mind the T20 World Cup next year in Australia.
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